Occupational health and safety news and guidance

A Derbyshire recycling firm has been fined after an employee was crushed in a machine at their depot at Griffon Road, Ilkeston.

Thomasz Hac was working for Donald Ward Limited (trading as Ward
Recycling) when the incident happened on 17 June 2009. Mr Hac and a
colleague were attempting to clear a blockage from a 'fragmentiser',
which crushes and shreds scrapped cars for recycling. They were working
inside the machine, having opened a canopy to gain access, when a car,
which had been trapped in the upper part of the machine, slid down and
landed on top of Mr. Hac.

He suffered severe abdominal crush injuries and broke his shoulder
blade and four ribs. He returned to work at the site in September 2009
but has since left the company.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found there was no
safe system of work in place and the incident could have been easily
prevented.